The Wellington: Margaret Graham’s Local in The Heart of London

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Margaret Graham

OK, so it’s the middle of winter, the wind is hurtling along the Thames, and you’re crossing Waterloo Bridge, head down, unaware that the bridge was rebuilt in the 2^nd World War, and the workforce included women. The only thought in your head is food and shelter.

Such was the situation a couple of years ago as Penny Deacon and I (writers and organisers of Words for the Wounded) reached the Strand, and there it was; this beacon in a sea of misery, the fantastic, fantabulous Wellington on the Strand. Straight across the road we powered, and hit the stairs to the restaurant at a run, resembling nothing as much as drowned rats.

That was the start of our Wellie adventure: within a few months it was the Graham’s London ‘local’. Penny lives in the West Country so looks on enviously, but I’m in High Wycombe, which is just a hop skip and jump from town. Often I meet Jan Speedie (besties since we were nine and she is also an organiser of Words for the Wounded). We spend an inordinate amount of time in the National or Portrait Galleries, in St Martin’s in the Fields poking about, or at the theatre, or exploring the City. Where do we eat? The Wellie of course.

Sticky slow-braised pork belly.

But why? Isn’t one pub much like another? I think, quite frankly, that whoever said that, needs to go and wash out her/his mouth with soap, as my mother would say.

The Wellington has the knack of becoming special to everyone we’ve brought along; the ‘grands’ love it, our friends too. It dates from 1903 and its neo-gothic exterior is a bit of a landmark. It is named after Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington whose historic victory over Napoleon in 1815 ended the Napoleonic Wars. (If you haven’t been to Apsley House, home of the first Duke of Wellington and his descendants, you should. It stands right in the heart of London at Hyde Park Corner.)

The Wellingon sits next to Covent Garden, a name derived from the Convent Garden, which belonged to Westminster Abbey. It was to Covent Garden that I went to buy a gift for my granddaughter with money presented by Jose on behalf of the staff, as she was having a serious operation that day.

The staff are gorgeous. There’s the manager, Ruth, from Australia, Jose the team leader, (Spanish) who wins the rosette for character. There’s Michal, assistant manager, who grows a moustache for charity from time to time and who has read Maeve’s Afternoon Delight, so has a big tick from me. There’s our lovely pal Eszter from Budapest who we love because of her great kindness, and Thomas from Krakow who I’m trying to get to write a feature with me about Krakow for Frost Magazine.

The ambiance is smart as a button, especially after its recent makeover but so many of the original features are still there that it’s hard to go wrong. One of the highlights for me is the Art Nouveau windows.

So, now we come to the food, of course. My favourite is the belly pork, Dick seldom strays from the sausage and mash, but Jan plumps for the fish fillets or seafood pie. We invariably add a large glass of Pino Grigio each. It’s always the right temperature, always rather too nice.

Let’s not forget the bar… The Wellington boasts a gorgeous long bar, and that brings me to the ales, which Dick and his bestie, Tim Norman, swear by.

The ales change seasonally so the Wellie rotates between 18 seasonal ales 4 times per year and also rotates between 19 National favourite ales. Nicholsons Pale Ale is always stocked – it is a classic English-style Pale Ale and brewed exclusively for Nicholson’s by St Austell Brewery. It is brewed with the finest Cornish Maris Otter barley.

If you’re after a super friendly attractive venue, with great food and drink, you don’t need to be freezing. Just head to the Wellie (The Wellington on the Strand, 351 Strand. London) www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/thewellingtonstrandlondon

Joo Yeon Sir in Concert at St Martin’s in the Fields 9th January by Margaret Graham

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Some years ago I was honoured to be invited to speak at the commemoration of Vera Brittain’s life, at St. Martin’s in the Fields. I was delighted to pay homage to the author of Testament of Youth, (soon to be released as a film) who wrote with an eye to the social and political context of the time, as indeed do I. So, on went the hat, and off I went.

In the front pews were the great and the good, rewardingly attentive. At the back, secure in the knowledge they were welcome at St. Martin’s whatever else was going on, were the sleeping, snoring homeless. St. Martin’s has endeared itself to me ever since; with its balance of religion, and community.

Part of this ethos had led, 65 years ago, to the free lunchtime concerts. At last I caught one, featuring Joo Yeon Sir and what a treat.

Joo Yeon Sir photograph by www.benjaminharte.com

Joo Yeon Sir (violin), acclaimed and award winning Korean born British violinist, has performed as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician at major venues across the UK. At the concert on 9^th January she was accompanied by Russian born Irina Andrievshy .So there I was, sitting in St. Martin’s again: did it disappoint?

Absolutely not, it was a tour de force.

As I sat towards the back, pre-concert, admiring the East Window created by Shirazeh Houshiary and Pip Horne with its etched mouth blown clear glass, I wondered if St Martin’s ethos of ‘all welcome’ still held good; especially in such a full house. Then I heard it… A homeless gentleman sitting in a pew across from me, asking where was God, loudly, and then rather more vehemently where the …. was he? Security arrived, a kindly security, who had a little chat, and the visitor left, amicably, to return halfway through the concert. A frisson ran round our area. He plonked himself in a congested pew, (they all were) getting everyone to shove up, and then settled to listen to the marvelous music, along with the rest of us. Perfection at all levels – again.

Joo Leon Sir had chosen to open the concert with Grave in style of F. Bach. I’m a great weeper when listening to the violin, because I find it the most beautiful of instruments, if played well. It was played, more than well, so things became blurred. What enhanced the piece was the glorious building. Both the playing and the architecture inspired awe.

Then it was the Sonata No 3 in C minor for Violin and Piano, which was beautifully and empathetically imagined and finally a Concert Fantasy on Gershwin’s Opera ‘Porgy and Bess’, which was cheeky, energetic and as haunting, as Gershwin always is.

Joo Yeon Sir plays not just with her fingers, but her whole body. She is a joy to listen to, and to watch. So, take the upcoming opportunity: Joo Yeon performs all ten of Beethoven’s sonatas for violin and piano, in a series of four rush-hour recitals at the Royal College of Music, starting 3^rd March.

Again, all recitals are free but tickets are required from the RCM Box Office. 020 7591 4314/ www.rcm.ac.uk/events Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, SW7 2BS.

The Queensbury Pub and Dining, Willesden Green

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

In the cold air as we walked up to The Queensbury, the decorative lights and laughs from within welcomed and warmed us inside where we were led to the back of the pub to the separate and more formal dining area.

As we were seated, in my head, I kept saying ‘mirror, mirror on the wall’ as one side was wholly decorated with retro mirrors while the back of the room featured wallpaper with rows upon rows of faces. The interior was homely and relaxing and the guests kept coming in throughout the evening to be wined and dined.

I started off with the crispy butternut squash and ricotta risotto balls with pine nuts and sage butter (£6.50). They were beautifully presented as a trio on the plate, and the individual bundles were surrounded by the sage butter and the flecks of pine nuts.

Perfectly brown and crispy on the outside, inside the risotto rice was sticky and was speckled with a whisper of butternut squash that added a hint of fleshy sweetness.

My fiancé went for the gin cured salmon with cucumber relish, caper berries and lemon dressing (£7.45). The dish was beautifully smoked and the deep-orange slithers had a tangy, moist texture which complemented well against the bitter taste of the capers.

He then plumped for the slow cooked lamb and vegetable stew with colcannon mash (£12.95) from the specials menu. It was a hearty meal delicately spiced and the lamb was very tender. The distinctive smell of the meat was masked by the herbs and spices and the colcannon mash, an old Irish recipe, was sweet, smooth and sour all at the same time.

Hoping to be a bit more adventurous, I ordered the seared pheasant breast and confit leg with spiced cabbage sweet potato rosti and a juniper jus (£13.95). The pheasant, a slightly darker, gamier meat to its competitor, the chicken, was again presented perfectly. The deep red of the tangy, soft cabbage against the deep green crispy kale was both pleasant on the eye and on the palette.

For dessert, we ordered the pear bakewell cheesecake with a mulled berry compote (£6.50) and a sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream (£6.50). Every mouthful of the sticky toffee pudding was deliciously wicked and sweet and the blueberries added little bursts of sharpness cutting the sugary rush. The cheesecake was a refreshing twist to the cold American classic and you could really taste the grainy flavour of the pears.

Throughout our three courses, Saul, the assistant manager and our waiter for the evening, was polite, friendly and knowledgeable.

We don’t venture out much to north London as we live in the south east, but we had a lovely evening at The Queensbury. The voices and laugher remained as we made our way back to the station heading for home.

Two Star Twist On Christmas: The Square Restaurant Review

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Jane Cable

New Bond Street wins the battle of the Christmas lights, no question. Even a grey Thursday morning couldn’t dull the shimmer of silvery peacock feathers and they must look even more spectacular after dark. But we weren’t going to hang around to until nightfall – we were in London for lunch at a very special restaurant.

We discovered The Square in Bruton Street a couple of years ago. Chef patron Philip Howard had just won the fish course of The Great British Menu and we were entranced by his fresh, classic style of cookery. To be honest I was also entranced by his silver fox good looks… much like my own husband’s… and the fact we could actually afford to eat in his two Michelin star establishment in Mayfair.

That’s when you know a successful restaurant is all about the food. The set lunch in the run up to Christmas was £50 and I believe it’s still substantially less for the rest of the year. There are bottles of wine on the extensive list for under £30 (and over £1,000). Ours was £55 and a quite superb Barbera. The one tiny fly in the unctuous ointment of our visit was that the young lady sommelier tried to upsell us to one double the price. Last time we were at The Square the fantastic Egyptian master of the wine list had carefully price pointed the desert wine we chose to exactly the same area as the bottle we had ordered – and that was very impressive.

But the rest of the service was outstanding. Although the restaurant is dressed formally its staff have a twinkle of humour and fun about them which makes it anything but starchy. Plus you only have to glance in their direction (or less, but more of that later) and they glide, smiling, across to your table in an instant.

It being Christmas, we started with a glass of champagne and very soon our amuse bouche arrived; a tiny rounded glass of cauliflower puree topped with a crisp bacon and sage crumb, sharp cranberry flavours and sitting on a bed of turkey jelly. You hear chefs talking about balance and this was it – a perfect microcosm of Christmas dinner.

We opted for different starters. My better half went for the terrine of English partridge and foie gras with air dried pear, quince puree and mead jelly. He especially liked the idea of English partridge… we once went to a small restaurant in Brighton and he asked whether the partridge on the menu was English or French… and we were rather amused when the answer came back “chef says it’s from Sussex.” He didn’t seek to question the origin of The Square’s offering; he was too busy eating it.

I chose the lasagne of Dorset crab and scallop because its cappuccino of shellfish and champagne foam is one of The Square’s signature elements. It was rich and light at the same time, and a perfect accompaniment to the delicious minced crab, sandwiched between the thinnest layers of a rather brilliant green – presumably festive – pasta.

For the main course we both headed straight for the roast haunch of Windsor Park venison with beetroot and port puree, roast chervil root (not a tiny parsnip, oh husband mine) and smoked ham and potato galette. The meat was cooked rare and finely sliced over the galette (a simple but time-consuming way of raising the humble potato to a heavenly level) and a bed of shredded sprouts. It was cooked to perfection but the real star of the show was the beetroot puree; sweet, rich and such a vibrant colour, it brought the plate to life on both table and taste buds.

The menus were brought back to us and we discussed our choice of desert. A very brief discussion really; husband of course went for cheese and because I’m not keen on the Brillat-Savarin which constituted the cheesecake, I decided on the Christmas pudding soufflé with chestnut and macadamia nut brittle ice cream.

We were somewhat surprised to see the cheese trolley appear at our table before the waiting staff had taken our order. “You do want it, though, sir” our young French waiter insisted “And you’re having the Christmas pudding soufflé, madam.” The psychic approach is certainly taking service to new levels. He also seemed to instinctively know which cheese to select for my husband, having been given the lead that Epoisses was essential. A Waterloo from Hampshire (“Like our French camembert…”), a goat cheese from the Auvergne, a very high class Cheddar and a blue from Carmarthen before scraping out the last of the Epoisses box to leave a huge dollop on my husband’s plate. I swear I can still smell it now.

The cheese was whisked away to reappear a little while later with my Christmas pudding soufflé, which was served with the understated theatre of a ball of ice cream being dropped into it, followed by hot brandy sauce. It was sublime. Every element of a Christmas pudding was there; spices, peel, plump raisins, but wrapped up in a lightness which is unforgettable. If it hadn’t been for Colin McGurran’s langoustine terrine (Frost, August 2014) it would have easily been my dish of the year.

We ordered our coffee and as we waited there was another delightful treat in store as we were offered a clementine from a beautiful wooden trug. It was the perfect finish to a rich meal, and apart from a few simple wreaths in the restaurant windows, one of the few visible concessions to the festive season. As I said, at The Square – it’s all about the food.

To find out more about The Square, visit www.squarerestaurant.com.

Jane Cable, December 2014

Nipa Thai London

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

Nipa Thai is one of the hidden gems of London. A fairly small and intimate setting with exceptional staff and decor.

Nipa (meaning pretty lady) is quite frankly amazing and has won the prestigious Thai Select award from the Thai Government for the highest standards of quality and fine food. There are only 14 other award holders in the whole of the UK, the equivalent of a Michelin star!

Once you have entered the hotel take the stairs up to the stunning terrace and enter the restaurant. We where lucky enough to visit when all the decorations where up and looking festive and pretty.

You will be welcomed with open arms when entering the restaurant by the most delightful and beautifully dressed staff.

The gorgeous menu will have you salivating and excited right from the start. We promise you wont be disappointed with any dish.

Once we had sat down the staff suggested some great wine to accompany our meal. We where treated to Vegetarian pad thai. Steamed sea bass with chilli and garlic sauce. Sweet and sour chicken along with sticky rice and a bowl of delicate jasmine infused plain rice.

The intimate ambiance of the entire restaurant will leave you feeling relaxed and totally satisfied. Further more the staff have to be the best in London. The food was mind blowing and we have been totally spoilt now due to the delicate and incredible flavours and textures of the sumptuous sea bass. The best we have ever had and we love our fish.

The pad thai was perfect and complimented both dishes so well. Crisp and delicate at the same time.

We then moved on to pudding….now this has to be said by the time we had eaten so much wonderful food I really didn’t think it would be possible to top the meal…Well I was wrong.

A hot clean towel to freshen up in between service.

Then feast your eyes on these babies below. Deep fried ice cream and a selection of tropical hand carved fruits. The highlight of the evening. Such talent in the cooking and presentation will have you gushing about this place for weeks once you have eaten here.

We leave you with this image and its safe to say it was the BOMB!!!

We give Nipa Thai 10/10. Make sure you plan a visit to this wonderful hidden oasis of flavours very soon.

Nipa Thai Restaurant Lancaster Terrace London W2 2TY T: 020 7551 6039 nipa@lancasterlondon.com

Opening hours: Mon-Sun: 5.00pm – 10.30pm.

Hakkasan Hanway Place Restaurant Review

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Jay Ottley

Among the side streets of the bustling streets of Central London on a typical rainy Sunday in London lies a hidden gem with a glittering red sign emblazing the word ‘Hakkasan.’ A michelin star restaurant created by Syra Khan and Alan Yau, founder of Wagamama and Yauatcha. As you enter the door and you’re greeted with the sweet scent of incense, which is a warm welcome as you enter down the stairs of Hakkasan which feels like you just abandoned London and entered a vintage but modern Chinese restaurant on it’s home continent… or the set of a John Woo film.

The first thing you notice is the elegance of Hakkasan, which is unexpected for a restaurant on Hanway Place just off Tottenham Court Road, which I’ve always had admiration and been intrigued by anything from the continents of East Asia. After you’ve admired the beauty of Christian Liagre’s design of Hakkasan, what smacks you next in the face is the diversity of the staff members and how you are treated as if you’re a celebrity. This to me was an unforgettable experience especially for my first food review, which I hadn’t even sat down or even looked at the menu yet.

I was escorted to my seat, which was cosy and perfect to me, because it gave me a view of the kitchen. Don’t ask me why but if I can’t see the kitchen I find it unnerving, it’s a pet peeve for me not being able to see the kitchen in an environment serving you food. I embraced the moment as I took in the beauty of the place and for a rainy Sunday the floor was vibrantly brimming with life. Broken out of my trance with water on ice being brought to me, without even asking. Only to notice that I had one of the highest paid actors sitting behind me before the smooth red menu was brought before me and the concept of Dim Sum Sunday explained to me by the lovely gentleman serving me called Pratesh.

Dim Sum Signature Sunday’s is a warming special 6 course meal for 2 people including dessert and two of Hakkasan’s classy cocktails as well three glasses of Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Champagne. Which for £58 quid a pop is literally a steal and one of the best I’ve seen especially for such a fine dining experience, or to impress your other half.

The first dish brought out being the crispy duck salad, when arrived the presentation was immaculate, as if the dish was sacred and not meant to be devoured. But falling to temptation, I managed to tackle the beauty of this dish. This starter was light and refreshing for the course that remained ahead. The flavours were delicate and sweet along with its pine nuts and shallot enhanced the flavours as they tangoed on the tips of the taste buds of your tongue. My only issue was the duck wasn’t crispy but if the duck was too crispy, it would have taken away the moisture, which made the duck succulent with every mouth-watering bite.

The next two courses consist of a variety of eight different beautiful hor d’oeuvres bought out on two different platters. One of them is steam with the other being fried and baked, which can be brought out separately or together. Which is a great option because you can enjoy bother delicious platters while conversing and enjoying your company along with the diverse flavours presented before you.

The platters of these two unique and well-presented platters and come out different for your eyes to gaze upon before you savour them bit by bit, piece by piece. The hor d’oeuvres are brought out accompanied by three sauces being soy sauce, sweet chilli and chilli oil, which each piece complimented each sauce, no matter what way you decided to devour it, except for one, which was the Celery Prawn Dumpling which out of the eight, was the stranger in a strange land. But it was a different flavour from the rest, because it had an after taste.

Arriving on the table with due short notice came the starter which was Salt and Pepper Squid, which was pretty much, what it was in the title, out of all the dishes this is the only one that didn’t feel or seem to have anything special about it unlike everything else.

Then came the dish I had been anticipating, Grilled Chilean Sea Bass glazed with honey with egg fried rice and vegetables, which was absolutely divine and beautifully presented for the two of you to help yourself to the large portions of your main courses. Everything tasted fresh the rice was al dente and steaming when it arrived on the table, the vegetables were perfect with the flavours of juices they were cooked in drizzled over the vegetables. While the sea bass shimmered with its sweet aroma as it glistened with it’s honey glaze. It truly felt like a criminal offence to demolish such a beautifully presented dish, but the crime was well worth it at that and mouth-wateringly delicious.

Now unbeknownst to me, came a surprise, dessert is also on the menu in the Dim-Sum Sunday meal deal with the addition of an after-dinner cocktail. While the dessert menu is fairly limited but the offers upon the menu are fantastic and even better it comes with recommendations on which after dinner cocktail would best suit and accompany your dessert. Being a bit adventurous I mixed and matched it up with an Apple Tarte with an apple sauce, blackberries and a dollop of ice cream, which the French originated dessert seemed perfect for the typical British day of rain. Although I wanted to remain in the atmosphere of East Asia, therefore I went with a Fitzrova Plum cocktail, which even though not in Hakkasan’s recommendations, was literally a tantalising duo that was out of this world, this combination went together literally like Laurel & Hardy.

that is literally impeccable, they take pride in what they do and attentive to every detail of their surroundings. Such attention given that your glass is refilled without even requesting. This is a Michelin star restaurant with bargain prices, for their quality of food and a place you go to feel like you’re a celebrity or you’re on top of the world, so to quote James Cagney.

But in closing I don’t think I could have put it in finer words than one of the member of management.

“We don’t need to promote ourself, our greatest promotion is word of mouth and that always has been the best way to promote… All these people are here because of someone telling them

Lazeez Tapas– A Taste of Lebanon in the Heart of London

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Frostie

London’s newest Lebanese restaurant ‘Lazeez’ is a quirky al fresco escape, full of stylish character and heart-warming services. Deriving from the Arabic language, Lazeez basically means tasty, whilst Tapas refers to Spanish tradition of sharing small wholesome dishes. Simply put ‘tatsy sharing dishes’.

Opened summer 2014, Lazeez aims to celebrate Lebanon’s rich culture and diverse food and drink. Made up of a strong culinary team that comprises of both authentic Lebanese chefs and mixologists, with a combined experience of over 30 years in the food beverage industry. Lazeez prides itself on using nothing but the best traditional ingredients to create meals that both replicate and challenge our western favourites.

Described as the perfect hangout whatever your mood, Lazeez is set over two floors and offers a modern stylish interior with warmly coloured walls, an open plan kitchen and wide floor to ceiling windows, that open up and overlook the terrace giving you an al fresco dining experience. It has a range of seating in the bar and kitchen area, plus a lounge in the basement that’s perfect for a quieter meal or to hire out for a private party. In the warmer weather, guests are encouraged to take advantage of the terrace and enjoy their meal and drinks al fresco.

Catering for the avid healthy eater the food menu offers a selection of meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan dishes. Guests can also sample an array of fresh brewed teas and coffees, organic juices, cocktails and Lebanese wines (available for your drinking pleasure).

Lebanon is one of the oldest wine providers with a history that dates back more than five millennia and Lazeez’s head mixologist George is keen to promote the renaissance of their ancient wine culture.

Situated in the heart of Marylebone, opposite Selfridges, Lazeez Tapas is fast becoming a local favourite with its delicious low-caloried menu, friendly staff and bespoke V shisha pipes.

The wide use of olive oil, exotic herbs and low starch foods makes Lebanese tapas a delicious alternative to high street fast food options.

Lazeez is open daily from 11.30am till 12midnight.

Lazeez is located 29 Duke St, London W1U 1LH

Website: www.lazeeztapas.co.uk

Facebook: /lazeeztapas

Twitter: @lazeeztapas

Gaucho Sloane Restaurant Review

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

The Gaucho has a reputation that precedes it. Quite a few people were jealous that I was reviewing it, more so than any other restaurant I have reviewed. It was all apparent why when we arrived. To begin with, the decor is stunning. The chairs are comfortable: high-backed with a black and white animal print. The entire place is just stylish. The atmosphere is not stuffy and there are a few families here with (well-behaved) toddlers.

Our waiter, Ewan, is incredibly knowledgable. He knows everything about the food and the wine. His recommendations are also excellent.

Our meal is started off with some bread and Chimichurri sauce, a staple in Argentina. It is made from parsley, garlic, fresh pepper, olive oil, red pepper and red wine vinegar. The bread comes in a good variety: there is some corn bread and some cheesy bread to go with the ordinary bread. All tastes great and fresh.

For our starter I have the pan-fried scallops with watercress purée, smoked pancetta and confit red peppers and my colleague has the crab caustic with egg, lime and avocado. The scallops are perfectly cooked and the sauce is wonderful, the smoked pancetta on top really works too. The crab is delicious and unique. It is presented on top of mashed potato. The avocado is perfect and the hint of egg is unusual but works well. It is complex and creative. The potato is smooth and well seasoned. It holds everything together.

For my main I have to have a steak, the Gaucho is famous for them after all. I have the churrasco de lomo: spiral cut, marinated for 48 hours in garlic, parsley and olive oil. It is 400g of pure heaven. Even more impressive because I cannot have it medium rare as I am pregnant but the chef manages to make it taste amazing, even though it has to be well done. This is the best steak I have ever had in my life. High praise indeed as I have eaten a lot of steak. It is just perfect and you can tell that a lot of time and effort went into it. Our waiter, Edwan, brought out the steak in advance to show us. The cows are grass fed and roam around an area of Argentina three times the size of the UK. I have a garlic hollandaise sauce on the side which is simply divine. However, the steak is so marinated and delicious it could be eaten on its own.

My colleague has pork belly with pumpkin purée, glazed button onions and buttered cabbage. He says it is a triumph: perfectly cooked pork with sweet caramelised onions and cabbage. It has a fantastic, sweet, sticky sauce that is not heavy and is divine with the pork.

For our sided we have baked and grilled sweet potato, brushed with butter. It is perfect. We also have some perfectly cooked buttery curly kale.

To drink we have mocktails. I have a virgin mojito that tastes just like the real thing and my colleague has a fruit punch. Both are excellent. I could drink a virgin mojito everyday.

For dessert I have a chocolate and raspberry alfajores: milk chocolate and raspberry parfait cake with italian meringue and crushed raspberries and my colleague has dulce de leche cheesecake, a salted dulce de leche. Both desserts are delicious.

Gaucho also have an extensive and wonderful list of Argentinean wine. Make sure you have some. There is also the Bar Galante next door. It is a beautiful bar, very stylish and perfect for sipping a cocktail or two.

I can highly recommend Gaucho. It is right at the top of my list of the best restaurants in London. Just superb.

Gaucho – Sloane
89 Sloane Avenue
London
SW3 3DX
Phone: 0207.584.9901
Fax: 0207.584.0045

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